The Common English Questions and Answers to Give Your Social Life

Your English classes have prepared you for language exams, university classes and travel—but have they prepared you for Friday night?

One reason why learning a language is so difficult is because the materials can start to seem irrelevant for “real life.”While it’s good to have an understanding of basic grammar, common questions, key phrases and vocabulary, it’s also important that you be able to use English to communicate with people in the real world.

What’s So Special About These Types of Questions and Answers?

Look at the questions below and see if you can spot the differences:

• “Hello! It is nice to meet you. How are you?”
• “Hi there! I don’t think we’ve met. How are you doing?”

In essence, these questions are asking for the same information. However, is more formal, while shows a feeling of ease and familiarity. That being said, the first one is a good example of an appropriate question to help you prepare for a job interview in English, but the other will serve you better in many social situations that you’ll encounter in life.

1. So, what do you do?

This question is a typical question when making small talk to get to know the other person better. It’s asking, “What is your job?”

Example answers:

• Right now, I’m a student. I’m in my second year of pharmacy school. How about you? What do you do?
• That’s a good question! I do a little bit of everything: some writing, some photography and some graphic design, too. What do you do?

2. How’s (summer) treating you?

This question is asking about a specific part of your life, like your summer, your job or any other major event in your life. It’s another way of asking, “How is your summer?” or “How is your new job?”

Example answers:

• Not bad, can’t complain! And how is your summer going?
• It’s treating me pretty well! I’ve gotten a lot out of it so far. And how’s summer going for you?

3. So, what have you been up to lately?

A person asking this question is asking about the awesome things you’ve done recently. Another way to ask this question is “How’s it going?”Usually, you only ask this question if you’re already familiar with the person. That is, you’ve seen them or met them before.

Example answers:

• Not much. My last class is on Thursday, so I’m excited about that! What have you been up to?
• Let’s see…Well, I started a new job last week, but other than that, everything is pretty much the same.

4. Long time, no see! Any updates since we last saw each other?

This is another friendly and common way to reconnect and start a conversation with someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

Example answers:

• Where to begin? A lot has changed in the past few months. I got a dog, moved apartments and switched jobs!
• Nothing too crazy. How about you? Any news?

5. So what do you do when you’re not working?

This question is asking, “What are your hobbies?” It’s also very common for people to ask, “What do you like to do outside of work?” or “What do you do when you’re not busy with (school)?”

Example answers:

• Well, recently I started playing volleyball on the weekends.
• Usually, I spend my free time doing activities with my family.

6. Do you follow?

This question is asking if you’re interested in a certain topic or person and if you keep up with it/them on social media or television.

Example answers:

• Oh, yeah! I love him/that show. Why?
• Sometimes. A little bit here and there. Why?
• No–actually, I haven’t heard of him. Who is he?

7. Would you mind giving me a hand with this?

This question is asking for help. Instead of asking a more formal question like, “Could you please help me?” most native speakers will ask for help with a phrase like this.

Example answers:

• Sure thing!
• You got it!

8. What sort of stuff do you do on the weekends?

This question is asking about your weekend activities. The phrase “sort of stuff” means “things” or “activities.”

Example answers:

• Let’s see…I usually spend my weekends reading and relaxing at home. How about you?
• Well, I tend to go to a lot of concerts. How about you?

9. So, what’s your take on (the latest movie)?

This question is asking “What’s your opinion of (the latest movie)?” or “What do you think about (a specific event)?”

Example answers:

• Oh, I really like it! What do you think?
• Ehh—I’m on the fence. What’s your take?
• “On the fence” is a way of saying you neither agree or disagree or you don’t know what to think about a specific topic.

10. Are you here with anybody?

This question is asking if you came to the event or location (like a bar or club) with another person. Usually, people ask this question as an indirect way of asking if you’re in a romantic relationship.

Example answers:

• Yeah—I came with my boyfriend.
• I just came with a bunch of my co-workers.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, having a casual conversation in English can be anything but basic! With these phrases, you’re more prepared than ever to make new friends.

Keep practicing your informal, conversational English in order to give your social life an upgrade!